Pipe retrieval system

ABSTRACT

A pipe retrieval system winds a pipe onto a spool. During winding, the pipe is pressed between two sectors of a tensioning device wherein at least one of the sectors is resiliently flexible.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to pipe retrieval systems in general andin particular to systems for retrieving irrigation pipes from a field.

Such systems may be placed at a location in a field to collect and windpipes onto a reel for reuse or disposal.

SUMMARY

The following embodiment and aspects thereof are described andillustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which aremeant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

In an embodiment a pipe retrieval system comprises a tensioning deviceand a spool, an irrigation pipe that is retrieved from a field passesthrough the tensioning device to the wind on the spool, wherein duringwinding the pipe is pressed between at least two sectors of thetensioning device.

Typically, a section of the pipe between the tensioning device and spoolis under tension during winding and optionally the section urges thesectors to bear against the pipe.

Preferably, at least a portion of the tensioning device is flexible andat least one of the sectors constitutes a part of that portion.

Optionally, the tensioning device comprises two wheels and each sectoris located on a respective wheel.

If desired, the tensioning device has a self locking feature which isprovided due to the following geometry. Each wheel has an axis ofrotation and an imaginary plane includes the axes, wherein at least onewheel is attached to the handle at a point along its axis and the handleis attached to the tensioning device at a point aside of the plane anddistal of the spool. Normal forces acting between the wheels when theyabut are directed in the plane and thereby will impose upon the wheelattached to the handle a moment force that will self lock the handle ina position which forms the abutment.

Optionally, the wheels are filled with fluid and preferably the fluid iscompressed air or gas.

The above embodiments provide also the advantages that a pipe retrievedfrom a field will be emptied from fluid it may still contain while notdamaging any element that may be attached to the pipe. By additionallymaintaining tension is a section of the pipe that is winded a largerlength of pipe may be winded.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiment described above,further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to thefigures and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It isintended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to beconsidered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The disclosure,however, both as to organization and method of operation, together withobjects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following detailed description when read with theaccompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wagon incorporating pipe retrievalsystems in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a section of FIG. 1 showing a pipe retrieval system;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the pipe retrieval system; and

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross sectional view of a section of FIG. 3.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures toindicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Attention is first drawn to FIG. 1. Two pipe retrieval systems 10 beingmounted on a wagon 12 are placed by a tractor (not shown) in fixedlocation in a field 14 to retrieve irrigation pipes 16. The retrievalsystems 10 are typically used to collect pipes 16 from the field 14 ontoa replaceable spool 18 for reuse or disposal at an end of an irrigationseason.

Each pipe 16 extends along a longitudinal axis X thereof which defines arear direction towards its respective system 10 and an opposing forwarddirection away from its respective system 10. It should be noted thatdirectional terms appearing throughout the specification and claims,e.g. “forward”, “rear”, etc., (and derivatives thereof) are forillustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe appended claims.

Attention is now additionally drawn to FIGS. 2 to 4. The retrievalsystem 10 has the spool 18, a tensioning device 20 and an arranger 22therebetween. The spool 18 is located on an axle 24 of the system 10which extends along an axis A. A rotation means (not shown), optionallyin the form of a motor, may rotate the axle 24 and thereby the spool 18about the axis A. The tensioning device 20 has a tensioning unit 26 andan arm 28. The arm 28 is optionally attached to the unit 26 and arranger22 at two pivots 30 that enable the tensioning unit 26 to alter betweena folded position (not shown) in which it is compactly received adjacentthe arranger 22 and an extended working position (shown in the figures)in which it is distal from the arranger 22. It is noted that the system10 is also optionally pivotally mounted to the wagon 12 adjacent thespool 18 and therefore in the folded position of the tensioning unit 26the whole system 10 may be compactly received on the wagon 12.

The tensioning unit 26 has a frame 32, a handle 34 and first and secondtensioning means 36, 38 optionally each in the form of a wheel withpreferably a flexible tire. The first wheel 36 is attached to the handle34 at a first join 40 and has an axis of rotation B1 that passes throughthe first join 40 (FIG. 4). The handle 34 is attached to the frame 32 ata merge 42 and has an axis or rotation G that passes through the merge42. The second wheel 38 is attached to the frame 32 at a second join 44and has an axis of rotation B2 that passes through the second join 44.The axes B1, B2 and G are parallel to each other and an imaginary planeP is defined as including the axes B1 and B2. The axis G is locatedaside the plane P in a direction away from the spool 18.

It is noted that optionally the tires are filled with fluid andpreferably the fluid is compressed air or gas. In addition it is notedthat other objects may qualify as the tensioning means 36, 38 besidesthe wheels. For example a tensioning means 36, 38 may be in the form ofconveyor belt. Finally it is noted that in an embodiment (not shown) oneof the tensioning means of the tensioning unit 26 may be relativelyflexible while the other may be substantially non flexible.

The handle 34 is adapted to rotate about the axis G between anon-engaged position (e.g. FIG. 2) and an engaged position (FIGS. 3, 4).In the engaged position the handle 34 urges a first sector 46 on aperiphery of the first wheel 36 to bear against a second sector 48 on aperiphery of the second wheel 38 at a pre-determined pressure (FIG. 4).In the engaged position, the sectors 46, 48 of the wheels 36, 38 deformresiliently in a substantially elastic manner and mutually impose oneupon the other a normal force N that is directed along the plane P. Itis noted that the normal force N that is imposed upon the first wheel 36forms a moment M about the merge 42 and axis G that self-locks thehandle 34 in the engaged-position.

As will be descried hereinbelow, any additional force that is imposedupon the tensioning unit 26 during pipe retrieval increases the moment Mthereby ensuring that the handle 34 remains in the engaged positionthroughout pipe retrieval. A limit 50 on the frame 32 limits the extentto which the handle 34 can rotate about the axis G into the engagedposition and thereby may define a maximal bearing force between thefirst and second wheels 36, 38 in the engaged position. In addition itis noted that the above sector definition 46, 48 is fixed in relation tothe area where both wheels 36, 38 meet and not in relation to a fixedposition on a periphery of each wheel 36, 38. Therefore the rotation ofeach wheel 36, 38 in the engaged position continuously introduced newportions on the wheel's periphery into the wheel's sector 46, 48.

Before a pipe 16 can be retrieved from a field 14, a user has to attachit to the pipe retrieval system 10. This is done by urging an end of thepipe 16 through the wheels 36, 38 and the arranger 22 and attaching itto the spool 18. By rotating the handle 34 to the engaged position thepipe 16 is pressed between the sectors 46, 48 of the wheels 36, 38 andthe system 10 is ready for use. Switching on the motor starts a rotationof the spool 18 about the axis A which thereby urges the pipe 16rearwardly to wind thereupon. A portion of the arranger 22 through whichthe pipe 16 passes is adapted to move back and forth along an axisparallel to the axis A in order to substantially evenly arrange thewinded pipe 16 upon the spool 18.

As the pipe 16 is urged rearwardly onto the spool 18 it passes and ispressed between the wheel sectors 46, 48. Due to friction, the pipe 16imposes a rearwardly acting force F upon each wheel 36, 38 at the sector46, 48 which urges each wheel 36, 38 to rotate about its axis B1 B2 andelastically deform as new portions of each wheel's periphery isrotatively urged into the sector 46, 48. These deformations act, interalia, to slow the rotation of the wheels and thereby form tension in asection 52 of the pipe 16 that is located between the spool 18 and thetensioning unit 26. This tension ensures that the pipe 16 is tightlywinded onto the spool 18 and thereby increases the total length of pipe16 that may be winded onto the spool 18.

Notably, the pipe 16 may have any number of irrigation elements attachedthereto, for example, drip emitters, sprinklers, anti-drip valves,drippers, or pressure regulators that may form projections therealong(not shown). The flexibility of the wheels 36, 38 allows for suchprojections to pass through the tensioning unit 26 without harming theelements while still pressing upon the pipe to empty it from fluid sothat it winds compactly on the spool.

It is noted that in an embodiment of the disclosure (not shown) thetensioning device 20 is coupled to the portion of the arranger 22 thatis adapted to move back and forth parallel to the axis A tosubstantially evenly arrange the pipe 16 upon the spool 18. Thisembodiment provides a compact arrangement which does not compromise onthe functionality of the pipe retrieval system as described hereinabove.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of theverbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are usedto indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily acomplete listing of members, components, elements or parts of thesubject or subjects of the verb.

Although the present embodiment has been described to a certain degreeof particularity, it should be understood that various alterations andmodifications could be made without departing from the scope of thedisclosure as hereinafter claimed.

1. A pipe retrieval system comprising a tensioning device and a spool,an irrigation pipe being retrieved from a field passing through thetensioning device to wind on the spool, wherein during winding the pipeis pressed between at least two sectors of the tensioning device.
 2. Apipe retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein a section of thepipe between the tensioning device and spool is under tension duringwinding.
 3. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 2, wherein duringwinding the section urges the sectors to bear against each other.
 4. Apipe retrieval system according to claim 3, wherein the sectors bearagainst each other at a location in which the pipe passes.
 5. A piperetrieval system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of thetensioning device is flexible and at least one of the sectorsconstitutes a part of that portion.
 6. A pipe retrieval system accordingto claim 1, wherein the tensioning device comprises two wheels and eachsector is located on a respective wheel.
 7. A pipe retrieval systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the tensioning device comprises a handle,each wheel having an axis of rotation and an imaginary plane includesthe axes, wherein at least one wheel is attached to the handle at apoint along its axis and the handle is attached to the tensioning deviceat a point aside of the plane and distal of the spool.
 8. A piperetrieval system according to claim 6, wherein the wheels are filledwith fluid.
 9. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 8, wherein thefluid is compressed air or gas.
 10. A pipe retrieval system comprising atensioning device and a spool, an irrigation pipe being retrieved from afield passing through the tensioning device to wind on the spool,wherein during winding the pipe is pressed between at least two sectorsof the tensioning device and at least one of the sectors is a flexiblewheel.
 11. A pipe retrieval system according to claim 10, wherein thewheel is filled with fluid.
 12. A pipe retrieval system according toclaim 11, wherein the fluid is compressed air or gas.
 13. An irrigationpipe retrieval system comprising: a spool configured to receive and windan irrigation pipe; a tensioning device spaced apart from the spool andconfigured to apply tension to an irrigation pipe that is being wound onthe spool; an arranger positioned between the tensioning device and thespool; and an arm connecting the tensioning device to the arranger;wherein: an irrigation pipe being retrieved passes through thetensioning device to wind on the spool; and during winding, theirrigation pipe is pressed between at least two sectors of thetensioning device.
 14. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according toclaim 13, wherein the tensioning device comprises: first and secondtensioning wheels in abutment with each other, the first sectorbelonging to the first tensioning wheel and the second sector belongingto the second tensioning wheel.
 15. The irrigation pipe retrieval systemaccording to claim 14, wherein the at least two sectors bear againsteach other at a location between the wheels through which the pipepasses.
 16. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 14,wherein: the tensioning device comprises a handle; each wheel has anaxis of rotation and an imaginary plane includes the axes; at least onewheel is attached to the handle at a point along its axis of rotation;and the handle is attached to the tensioning device at a point aside ofthe plane and distal of the spool.
 17. The irrigation pipe retrievalsystem according to claim 14, wherein the wheels are filled with afluid.
 18. The irrigation pipe retrieval system according to claim 17,wherein the fluid is compressed air or gas.
 19. The irrigation piperetrieval system according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion ofthe tensioning device is flexible and at least one of the sectorsconstitutes a part of that portion.